Post-hole machine.



B. ROBERTS. POST HOLE MACHINE. APPLmATIoN 171mm SEPT. o, 1912.

1,073,821, Patented sept.23,1913.

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24 ,.54 35 J5 o n I, 37 s /B "Lf Z6 l- 29 y l Eef/// 45' 46 [mentor B. C. ROBERTS. POST HOLE MACHINE. APPLIoATIoN FILED SEPT. e, 1912.

Patented Sept. 23, 1913.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BERT CECIL ROBERTS, OF BECKWITH, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO LLOYD LESSYY,

' 0F BECKWITH, IOWA.

POST-HOLE MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application illed September 9, 1912. Serial No. 719,494.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, BERT Cnoii. Ronnnrs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beckwith, Iowa, have invented new and useful'Improvements in Post-Hole Machines,

" of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to the general class of drilling machines and is intended for digging holes for posts.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an apparatus with which holes for posts can be rapidly and efficiently dug.

To this end an auger is provided to drill the hole and at the same time force the material to be excavated into a bucket which is situated above it. The auger is vertically slidable with relation to the bucket, and when the bucket is filled with earth, can set up against the bottom of the bucket and thus hold the earth in the bucket. The bucket with its temporary bottom can then be raised and swung to a place where it is desired to dump its contents. At such place, the vertically slidable auger is lowered from the bucket and thus the contents of the bucketpermitted to drop therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for operating said devices either by hand or motor power.

It is also an object of the invention to provide means for automatically throwing said device out of operative connection with said motor.

A further object is to provide means for automatically engaging and holding the bucket while the al* ger is allowed to drop.

One feature of the invention is that a hole of a comparatively narrow diameter can be dug to a very great depth.

Another feature of the invention is that the material excavated can be conveniently dumped away from the hole. And furthermore, the ground inits immediate vicinity, can be kept entirely free from the excavated material.

Still another feature of the invention arises, when the hole sought to bedug passes through pavement or other firm surface. With this device, only a smallv portion of the pavement need be removed, practically no more than the area of a transverse section of the post to be inserted.

The above andother features,1 advantages and capabilities will become apparent from each other.

a detail description of the accompanying drawings in 'which- Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of the apparatus embodying my invention, showing the bucket and auger held together in their raised position and in their lower position, the 'dotted diagram illustrating the lowered position. Fig. 2 is an end View of the device which shows the bucket held in its raised position and the au er'released, illustrating the relative positions of the auger and bucket when the contents of the bucket are intended to be removed. Fig. 3 shows the angle that is made about the frame by the two-arm piece forholding the bucket in its raised position. Fig. 4 shows in detail the bifurcated end of the bent lever of the clutch mechanism for connecting with the motor. F ig. 5 shows the bifurcated end of the lower arm of the two-arm piece for holding the bucket in its raised position. Fig. (3 shows the catch mechanism for maintaining in its raised position the two-arm piece after it has been raised into such position.

Withreference to the drawings, I will designate the upright member of the frame as 1, which frame may be pivotally mounted on any suitable support 2. At the upper end of this upright member, two arms 3 and f1 proj ectout horizontally, and parallel with The ends 5 and 6 of each of these arms are slightly enlarged in which enlai gements, circular openings are provided concentric with one another to receive circular sleeves 7 and 8 which are slidably mounted on auger rod 9. These sleeves are provided with shoulders at their upper and lower ends to retain them in position in the ends of the arms. The upper part of the auger rod is angular in cross-section for purposes which will hereinafter be seen, and the lower part circular in cross-section. At its upper end, the auger rod is provided with a fly-wheel 10 and at its lower 'end' with an auger 11. The fly-wheel function is mainly to add weight, in order to assist the auger in biting into the ground.

The arms 3 and 4 are connected by a suitable cross-piece 12. A shaft 13 parallel with and between these arms 3 and 1., is rotatably mounted at one end in the upright member 1v and at its other end in this crosspiece 1 2. This shaft is provided at its outer i toothed clutch member 17.

loosely mounted onsaid` shaft 13 has aA end with a beveled gear 14 continuously in mesh with a beveled gear '15 fast on sleeve 16 which is slidable on and rotatably mounted withl auger rod 9. This shaft 13 may be driven by hand for which reason acrank lever is provided.

The shaft .13 is provided with va fixed A' drum 18 clutch member 19 atl one end adapted to engage clutch member v17. At its other end this drum 18 has any suitable clutch controlling member as for instance, an annular groove 20 and a bifurcated member 21 playing in said groove, which bifurcated member has an extension 22 which is fulcrumed to a lever arm 23 pivoted to4 upright 1. -A

flexible member or rope 24 is adapted to be wound on drum 18. `This flexible member passes through eyelet 25, from there, one end on one side of the auger rod passes down under sheave 26, up and over sheave 27,

across and under sheave 28` and then is con with its bucket 32 is free to slide on auger.

rod 9 upward to abut against collar 29 and the lower end of bucket 32 abutting against auger 11 is of suiicient diameter to serve as a temporary bottom for the bucket 32. Arms and 36 are integral Vwith one another and. pivoted vat .their intersecting point at 34. The arm 35 is provided with a bifurcated end.37 clearly shown in Fig. 2.

' Arm 36 has' a bifurcated end 38' which, in

the present instance, makes an angle of about forty-five degrees with thevbody pory tion of the arm 36. This bifurcated end is clearly shown in4 Fig. 5. The two-arm device has a rear extension 39 withabent intermediate portion to allow the vextension to pass in a line parallel with the two-arm device on the opposite side ofthe Vupright 1. This rear extensionl 39 is connected to clutch arm 40 by a link. .The clutch arm 40 has the usual bifurcated portion 41 clearly shown in Fig. 4, to engage the annular groove 42 on the clutch shaft 43 which has a pulley 44 mounted to rotate with the shaft and a toothed member 45 which,.when theclutch member is shifted to.. position. of operation, engages a suitablepnion 46 driven by some source of poweras' a motorg47.

A. catch mechanism is provided consisting of a right-angled member 48 having its horizontal piece 49 secured to thellower side of arm 4. Thelower end of the vertical piece4 middle of the straight member 52. At the i lower end of the vertical piece 50 is provided a straight flexible member projecting beyond the end ofthe vertical piece 50, and in the well known manner acts as a spring to hold .the angularmember 51 so lthat the, straight member 52, when in its vertical position will have'its side held flat against it and when in horizontal posiu tion will have its base held flat againstit. The coil Spring 54 serves to pull up the angular member 51.

The operation of the device is substantially as follows: When the machine is in the posit-ion of rest, as shown in Fig. 1`, the clutch -lever 23 is swung to the right to disengage the clutch mechanism. The weight ofthe auger and its component parts will per se pull downward thereby rotating the drum 18 to play out the flexible member and thus the auger will drop' until collar 29 reaches the position immediately above the bifurcated end 38.. The bifurcated end 37 of the'upper'arm 35 in the position of rest passes around the auger rod 9 and 'at lts middle portion is held by the catch arm 52.

The bifurcated end 38 engages the annular groove 56 of the collar 31 to hold the bucket in: itsraised position. Now, when the catch member 1s pressed downward to release arm v 35, the Weight of the bucket will be suiicient4 'to allow it to4 drop until it reaches the auger. 11. The' bucket wil1,.of course pull the bars with it and thus the weight o the bars assistingalso, the clutch arm 40 will shift the clutch mechanism over so that y Ythe toothed clutch member 45 enters lnto 'engagement with the s rocket wheel 46. lThe `sprocket, wheel 46. rives thetoothed clutch member 45,whichjdr1vesthe pulley 44 which pulle 44 by, means of abelt 57 drives the sha t13. The shaft 13 ydrlves theV beveled gear 14 which mesheswith the 1 beveled gear 15 fast Von au er rod 9 and thus rotates theauger l1. he au adaptedto force the material to e excavated above' it into thelbucket 32.

When the bucket 32 is filled, it merely I necessary to shift the clutch lever 23 to the lleft to shift drum 18 intoengagement. The vdrum will then` rotatevwith the shaft and wind up the exible member and thereby raise the auger 11 with the bucket 32.` The collar 29 in its upward movementengages .the bifurcated end 3 7 vand thus raises the arms 35 and 36 with p 36 moves over r11 is weasel and engages 'the annular groove 5'6`in the collar l1. Arm A35 in its 'upward movement strikes the curved member 53 and pulls Sti up the angular piece 51. -As soon as this an ular piece 51 as passed dead center with re 'rence t'o the straight flexible `member 55, the coil spring 54 will snap up this member 5l and with it. securely hold up arm 35. The arm 35 by means of the link and the thereto connected bifurcated portion 4.1, shifts the clutch member out of engagement with the motor. So that drum 18 when it is rel-eased to unwind itself and lower auger 11, will not operate the shaft 1.3 and set auger 1l into rotation, a do 58 1s suitably secured to arm 3 to engage eveled gear 14 and thus prevent rotation of the auger. Also when the auger has been raised by the winding up of the drum, by. means of the dog reverse rotation is prohibited and therefore, so long as the clutch is in engagement, the auger will remain raised.

When the device is to -be operated by hand, it is obvious that the clutch mecha nism for the motor and the belting will be unnecessary. While I have herein shown and described onl one embodiment of my invention, it is to e understood that various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of my invention as defined 1n the appending claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an excavator having a pivotally mounted framek consisting of an upright member having a horizontal extension at its upper end, a driving shaft mounted in said frame, anv auger rod mounted in the outer end of said horizontal 'extension to be rotated by said driving shaft, an auger fixed on the end of said auger rod to rotate therewith, a bucket slidably mounted on said auger rod to set over said auger, and means operatively connected with said driving shaft for raising said bucket.

2. A post hole excavator having a pivotally mounted frame consisting of an upright member having two horizontal members at its upper en an auger rod rotatably mounted in the outer ends of said two horizontal members and movable up and down, a driving shaft mounted in said frame and adapted to rotate said auger rod, an auger -fixed on the end of said auger rod to rotate therewith, and means operatively connected with said driving shaft' for raising said auger rod.

3. A post hole excavator having a pivotally mounted frame consisting of an upright member having two horizontal members at its upper end, a sha-ft mounted between said horizontal members, a drum on and adapted said shaft, an auger rod rotatably mounted in the outer ends of said horizontal members and' movable up and down, an auger fixed to the end of said auger rod, a flexible member connected to said au er rod and to said drum, said flexible mem er adapted to be wound up on said drum and thus control the raising and lowering of said auger, and a bucket slidably mounted on-said auger rod and adapted to set over said auger.

4. A post hole excavator havin a pivotally mounted frame consisting o an upright member and two parallel members at its upper end` a shaft mounted between and parallel to said parallel members, a beveled gealr fixed on the end of said shaft, an auger rod rotatably mounted in the ends of' said parallel members and permitted to move up and down, a second beveled gear non-rotata bly mounted on said auger rod, said second beveled gear meshing with the beveled gear on said shaft to transmit rotation from said shaft to said auger rod, and a bucket slidably mounted on said auger rod and mounted to set over said auger.

5. A post hole excavator having a frame, a shaft rotatably mounted in said frame, an auger rod rotatably mounted in said frame to rotate `with said shaft, an auger fixed on the lower end of said auger rod, a drum loosely mounted on said shaft, a flexible member connected to said auger rod and adapted to be wound up on said drum, a toothed clutch member fixed on said shaft to rotate therewith, a toothed clutch member mounted on said drum to rotate therewith adapted to be set into engagement with the clutch memberon said shaft and thereby wind up the flexible member on said drum and with it raise the auger rod.

6. A post hole excavator having a frame, a shaft rotatably mounted in said frame, an auger rod rotatably mounted in said frame to rotate with said shaft, an auger fixed on the lower end of said auger rod, a drum loosely mounted on said shaft, a flexible member connected to said auger rod and adapted to be wound up on said drum, a toothed clutch member fixed on said shaft to rotate therewith a toothed clutch member mounted on said drum to rotate therewith adapted to be set into engagement with the clutch member onsaid shaft and thereby wind up the flexible member on said drum and with it raise the auger rod, and a bucket slidably mounted on said auger rod and set over said auger.

7. A post hole excavator having a frame, a shaft rotatably mounted in said frame, an auger rod-rotatably mounted in said frame to rotate with said shaft, an auger fixed at the lower end of said au er rod, a fly-wheel fixed at the upper end off said auger rod to rotate therewith, a drum loosely mounted on said shaft, a flexible member connected to said auger rod and adapted-to be wound on said drum, a toothed clutch member fixed on Asaid shaftvto rotate therewith, and a toothed clutch member mounted on said drum to rotate therewith adapted tobe set into'engagement with the clutch .member on said shaft and thereby windlup the flexible member on said drum and with it raise the auger rod.

,8. A post hole excavator having a frame, an auger rod 'rotatably mounted on said frame, an auger xed at the lower endof said auger rod to ,rotate therewith, a bucket slidably. mounted on said auger rod and per- .mitted to set over said auger, and a rigid v member pivotally mounted on said frame .and adapted to move up and down with said slidably mounted on said auger rod and permitted to set over said auger, and a two-arm member pivotally mounted on said frame, said member adapted to move up andv down with said bucket, said member consisting of an upper and lower arm, said upper arm in continuous engagement with said auger rod and adapted to move upward therewith, and

` said lower arm engagingand holding said bucket when in its raised position.

10. In an excavator having a frame, an auger rod rotatably mounted. in said frame, an auger fixed at the lower end of said auger rod to rotate therewith, a bucket slidably mounted on said auger rod and permitted t set over said auger, a rigid member pivotally 'connected to sald frame and 1n v continuous engagementswith said auger'rod so thatit willbe raised with the same, and means for rotating said auger-rod,said rigid member being operatively connected to throw said rotating `means out of enga-gement with said auger rod when said auger rod is in its raised position.

11. A post hole excavator having a frame,

an auger rod rotatably mounted insaid frame, an auger `fixed at. the lower end of said Vauger rod to rotate therewith, an invertedV bucket slidably mounted on said auger rod and permitted to set over said auger, said bucket having a collar fixedto its upper end, said collar having an annular groove passing around sald auger rod, and

a'lrigid` member pivotally connected to said frame, 4said member having a bifurcated end adapted to be engaged in the annular groove ,of'said collar thereby to hold said bucket 3 when in its raised position.

12. A post hole excavator havin a frame, an augerI rod rotatably mounte in said frame, an au er fixed at the lowerv end of lsaid auger ro to rotate therewith-,an invert- `upper end one above the 1to1-raser ed bucket slidablyfmounted on said auger rod and permitted .to set over said auger so Vraised with the auger rod and to hold said bucket when in its raised position.

13. A post hole excavator having a pivot-l ally mounted frame consisting of an upright members at p its member and two parallel other, an auger rod rotatably mounted in the ends of said.

parallel mem-bers, an auger fixed at the lower.

end of said auger `rod to rotate therewith, an inverted bucket slidably mountedon said auger rod, a rigid member pivotally connected to said frame and permitted to move up and down with said bucket, a collar on 'said auger rod fixed to move up and down therewith, said rigid member having a bifurcated end engaged by said lcollar and adapted thereby to be raised with the auger rod,'al1d.a catch mechanism fixed to the lower side of the lower onegof said parallel 'members, said catch mechanism adapted to engage said rigid member when'in its -raisedposition and hold it inv such position. X

14. A post hole excavator having a pivotally mounted vframe consisting of an upright member and two parallel members at its upper end one above Vthe other,`an auger rod rotatably mounted 'in the outer ends of said parallel members, an auger fixed lat the lower end of said auger rod to rotate therewith, an inverted bucket `mounted on said auger rod, said bucket having a collar fixed to its upper end, said collar having an annular groove passing around said auger rod, a rigid member pivotally connected to said frame and permitted to move vup and down with said bucket, said `rigid member having a biurcat-ed end, said bifurcated end being adapted to engage in the groove of said collar and thereby retain said bucket in its raised position, and a catch mechanism fixed to the lower side of the lower yone of said parallel members, said catch mechanism adapted to engage said rigid member when in its raised position 'and hold it in ,such positi'on and with it the bucket, thereby permitting the-auger rod to drop without said bucket. y e

'15. A post hole .excavatoihaving' a pivotally mounted frame consisting of an upright member and two' parallel members at its upper end one above the other, an auger. rod rotatably mounted in the outer ends of said parallel` members, an auger fixedat the lower end of said auger rod to rotate therewith, an inverted .bucket mounted on yauger rod,

said auger rod, a rigid member having an upper' arm and a lower arm pivotally connected to said frame and permitted to move up and down with said bucket, a collar on said auger rod fixed to move up and down i collar and thereby to be raised with said auger rod, said bucket having a collar fixed to its upper end, said collar having an an'- nular groove passing around said auger rod, the lower arm of said rigid member having a bifurcated end, the bifurcated end of said lower arm adapted to engage in the groove of said collar and thereby retain the bucket in its raised position and a catch member fixed to the lower sideof the lower one of said parallel members, said catch member adapted to engage said rigid member when in its raised position and hold it in such position and with it the bucket, thereby permitting the auger rod to drop without said bucket. 16. A `post hole excavator' having a pivotally mounted frame consisting oit an 'upright member and two horizontal members at ,its upper end one above the other, an augerrod rotatably mounted in the outer ends of said horizontal members, an auger fixed at the lower end of said auger rod to rotate therewith, a rigid `member pivotally connected to said upright member, said rigid member being in continuous engagement withsaid auger rod and adapted to be raised by it, a motor, operating means for said auger rod, a clutch mechanism journaled insaid upright member adapted to connect said motor with said operating means for said auger rod, a lever having a bifurcated end pivotally connected to said upright member, said bifurcated end engaging said clutch mechanism, and a link connecting said lever with said rigid mem ber, said clutch mechanism being out of engagement when said rigid member is in its raised position and in engagement when said rigid member is in its lower position.

17. post hole excavator havin a pivotally mounted :trame consisting 0% right member and two horizontal' members at its upper end, an auger rod rotatably mounted in the outer ends of said horizontal members, an auger fixed at the lower end of said auger rod to rotate therewith, an inverted bucket slidably mounted on said auger rod, a -rigid member pivotally con nected to said upright member, said rigid member havingl a bifurcated end adapted to enigage and old said bucket when in its raise position and permit said auger rod to drop, a motor, o erating means for said a clutc mechanism journaled in said upright member adapted to connect said motor with said operating means `for and means said auger rod, a lever having a bifurcated end pivotally connected to said upright member, the bifurcated end of said lever engaging said clutch mechanism, and a link connecting said lever with said rigid member, said clutch mechanism being out of engagement when said rigid member is in its raised positionand inengagement when said rigid member is in its lower position thus stopping the oieration of the auger while the contents o the bucket are being removed.

18. A post hole excavator havin a pivotally mounted frame consisting o? an upright member having two horizontal members at its upper end one above the other, a shaft rotatably mounted between and parallel to said parallel members, a drum loosely mounted onsaid shaft, a toothed clutch member mounted on said shaft to rotate therewith, a toothed clutch member fixed on said drum to rotate therewith and adapted to engage with said clutch member on the shaft to set said drum to rotate with said shaft, a beveled gear fixed to the end of said shaft, an auger rod rotatably mounted in the outer ends of said `horizontal members and adapted to move up and down, said auger rod having a beveled gear slidably mounted thereon and fixed to rotate,

therewith, said beveled gear on the auger rod` continuously in mesh with said beveled gear on said shaft, a flexible member attached to said auger rod and adapted to be wound up on said drum when said clutch member connects said drum to rotate with said shaft, and a dog secured to the upper arm of said horizontal members, said dog engaging the beveled gear on said shaft and adapted to prevent such beveled gear from turning back when disengaged an thereby allow the connected drum to turn back.

19. In an excavator, a frame, an auger rod rotatably mounted in said frame, a bucket slidably mounted on said rod, means adapted to automatically engage said bucket for holding said bucket in its raised position and means for rotating said auger.

20. In an excavator, a frame, an auger rod rotatably mounted in said frame, a bucket adapted to move up and down on said rod, a collar having an annular groove fixed to the upper end 'f said bucket, means adapt# ed to engage in the groove of said collar` for holding said bucket in its raised position for rotating said auger.

21. In an excavator, a frame, an auger rod rotatably mounted in said frame,a bucket adapted to move u and down on said rod, a collar provided with a groove fixed to the upper end of said bucket, a rigid member pivotally mounted on said frame said member having an arm provided with a bifurcated end adapted to engage in the groove i yadnaed 4of Saidbonarffor-holding Said buck/sf in" 'its raised position and means for operating' said auger rod.

v 22. In an excavator, a frame, an auger, rod' rotatably vmounted on said frame, a-

driv'ing mechanism for said auger rod, a bucket' slidably mounted on said rod, means to @automatically engage said bucket for holding it in its raised position,

and 'means for automatically ldisconnecting said driving mechanism when said bucket has reached its raised position. i

. 23. In an excavator, aframe, an auger rod rotatably and slidably mounted on said frame, acoll'ar' connected to said. auger rod, a driving mechanism for said auger rod, meansfor raising said auger rod, and means engaging said collar and-adapted to throw said Adriving mechanism out .of operative Connection-with said. auger rod when said collar hasfreached its raised position.

24; In an excavator, a iframe, a driving shaft rotatably mounted in saidv frame, a

drum rotatably mounted4 on sai-d shaft, an

anger rod adapted to be rotated by said" shaft, means connecting said drum with said anger rod for raising said'auger rod, means for throwing sai-d drum into andout of'opl erativetconnection with saidshaft, a driv# ing mechanism for operating `said shaft, a collar or extension on said'aug'er rod,y and means adapted toengage said collar or extenslon for throwing said drivingA mecha` msm out of operative connection with said shaft whenv sai-d auger rodhas reached its raised position.

l25.' In an excavator, a frame', an auger rod rotatably'fl and slidably mounted in said l-fra1'ne,fa collar or` extension on` said auger' rod, a drivi ng mechanism forysaid auger rod, a rigid member pivotally mounted on Said frame and adapted to be engaged by said-collar on said auger rod for throwing. said driving mechanism out of `o eratlve connection, and yielding means for olding said driving mechanism out of operative connection until said auger rod is lowered.

l 26. In an excavator, a. frame, an auger rod rotatably and slidably mounted in said frame, a rigid member pivotally connected to said'frame and adapted to Ibe engaged and raised by said auger rod, a driving mechanism for said auger rod, said rigid member being operatively.. connected to throw said driving mechanism out' of enauger rod has reached its raised'position.

' 27. ln an excavator, a frame,v an auger rod byvsaid' auger rod for throwing said driv lng mechanism 'out of operative engagement with saidl auger rod.r f

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name to this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

' BERT CECIL ROBERTS.

1 Witnesses Y t' ISRAEL,

'fBaaADnBARN.l

gagement with` said auger rod when said 

